Hello, old friend! If you cast your mind back to 1986 when Ronald Reagan was President and Top Gun was all the rage at the box office, there's something about the nostalgia of the time that's as comforting as a familiar, dog-eared paperback. Can you almost taste the Tab Cola, feel the crunch of your acid-wash jeans, or hear Whitney Houston's 'Greatest Love of All' playing from the radio?
Remember the comforting ritual of settling down every evening to catch The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson? That magic hour when the kids were tucked in bed and you kicked up your feet, anticipating Johnny's smooth delivery and uproarious sketches.
One of our favorite guests was the radiant Betty White, always a breath of fresh air and a sure bet for laughs. Picture yourself sitting down in front of the TV set, eagerly waiting for Johnny to introduce his next guest. Suddenly, the stage darkens, the band strikes up, and there she is, Betty White, stepping into the spotlight to a wave of applause. Can't you just hear the mellow brass of Doc Severinsen's band as she glides across the stage?
At the time, White was starring in a little show called 'The Golden Girls' (and by little, we mean 'phenomenon that ruled Saturday nights'). Remember how Saturday night felt incomplete without those four wisecracking ladies?
Those were the days, weren't they? Grocery shopping involved buying a gallon of milk for just about $1.20. Remember when you could get a new Ford Mustang for just a hair over $9,000? And how about purchasing a home at an average price of $80,000?
Betty and Johnny had a great rapport, trading jokes like pros at a comedy roast. Even discussing some intimate, playful jokes about her and her late husband, Allen Ludden. Their banter was the kind of television gold you just don't find anymore, wasn't it? It was easy to believe you were right there in the studio, a part of the fun.
Remember how White would recount those jokes with a twinkle in her eye, always game to be the punchline of a joke. That clip where she talks about a "wife swapping party" joke that Carson made about her and Ludden is pure Betty, isn't it?
Now, here's an invitation to relive those golden moments. Head over to MadlyOdd to watch this delightful video because it will warm your heart, like a sip of hot cocoa on a winter's day, and remind you of simpler times. And hey, if it brings a smile to your face, why not share it with a friend? Remember, laughter was, is, and always will be the best medicine.
Ever think about picking up more Johnny Carson? Amazon has a lot of it around.
